Reviving
Indian dance and music: where South meets North - Padma Dadi,
Torontoe-mail: paddsm@yahoo.com

June 13, 2006

The connoisseurs
of New Jersey were treated to an evening of pure classical artistry on
Saturday, May 6th at the prestigious Nicholas Center, Rutgers University
in New Brunswick, NJ. The Gandharva festival 2006,organized by the Madhyam
group which made its debut last year, this year presented a spectacular
Indian music and dance program featuring distinguished musicians from abroad
and dancers who have settled in New Jersey, whose mission is propagating
the richness and tradition of Indian culture.

This
expansive 6 hour program featured mellifluous music featuring guest vocalist
Ashwini Bhide, keyboard player Abhijit Pohankar and acclaimed flautist
Rakesh Chaurasia. The later half of the show was dedicated to an exemplary
dance performance by Divya Yeluri (Kuchipudi) and Archana Joglekar (Kathak)
blending the precision and gait of the Kathak dance form with the delicacy
and suppleness of the Kuchipudi dance style, with live orchestra comprising
of extremely good accompanists in both Hindustani and Carnatic music forms.

The opening
number was "Ananda Tandavam," a traditional Kuchipudi item wherein the
dancers depict Lord Shiva performing the legendary Shiva tandavam in rhapsody
wherein all the celestial beings too play the musical instruments and join
in the rhythm of this cosmic dance. This item was choreographed and performed
by both the artistes Divya and Archana to synchronize the movements to
both Kuchipudi and Kathak styles and at the same time maintaining the uniqueness
of each of the dance forms.

The
next item was a Tarangam, "Marakata Mani Maya Chela," performed by Divya
Yeluri in the Kuchipudi style. In this item, Divya illustrates the divine
qualities of the Lord such as benevolence and mercy through the Krishna
– Kuchela (Sudama) episode. This dance then culminates in the plate dance,
where the dancer balances and performs intricate footwork on the edge of
a brass plate. Divya's mime and expression and the swiftness of footwork
took the audience into realms of artistic bliss.

The last item
was a solo by Archana Joglekar starting with the well known Tulsidas bhajan
"Sri Rama Chandra," wherein she depicted the martial episode of Ramayana
beginning with the formation of the varadhi, "the bridge" by Hanuman and
the others, followed by Rama- Ravana Samharana and also added a beautiful
tail piece "Mandodari Vilaap." This culminated in the Santhi mantra praying
for eternal peace and prosperity. Archana did a befitting job of depicting
the various moods of the episodes.

Divya D Yeluri
and Archana Joglekar Mulye both based in New Jersey are accomplished artistes
in their respective fields of Kuchipudi and Kathak. Archana Joglekar is
the daughter and student of guru Asha Joglekar. She has worked in films
as well. Divya Yeluri is a senior disciple of guru Vempati Chinna Satyam.
Archana Joglekar is a trustee and Vice Principal of Archana Nrityalaya
Mumbai and Director of the New Jersey branch. Divya Yeluri is the Founder
Director of Nritya Madhavi School of Dance in Edison, New Jersey.

Padma
Dadi has worked for Indian Express and Deccan Chronicle in India, followed
by a 3 year stint as a journalist in Reading, UK. As a freelance journalist,
she continues to contribute articles mainly to the Art and Culture sections
of publications. She is presently based in Canada.